Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-10-21
A Brave Express Messenger.

For some time past train and express
robberies have ben very frequent i'll
the West, and the thieves have become
very bold and daring. In Texas last
Friday night the robbers tackled the
wrong express messenger, however.
The Galveston, Harrisburg and San
Antonio express. which should have left
Fl Paso Friday ut 4.30 p. m, was delay
ell till /. 80 in waiting for the Southern
Pacific train from the West. Engineer
Lohrer says that when his train had
gone about nile, two men, wearing
cloth masks, came over the tender with
a revolver in each hand. The engineer
tried To stop the train, but the men or
dcred him to run on TO Il curve aud stop
quick. When he reached the curve they
ordered him and his firemen TO get off
the engine and took them back 10 the
express car. The robbers In the mean-
time were firing off their revolvers and
shouting and cursing. Reaching the
express ear. one of them threw dyna-
mite against the front door Of one side
of the car. The explosion knocked Il
large hole in the door and broke out The
glass in the other doors. The robbers
called the express messenger TO come
out. The messenger was j. Earnest
Smith, and with him WAS j X. Boards
lev, clerk In Wells. Fargo'S Office AT
Fort Worth. When they heard the fir
ing they put out the lights aEC went to
the rear of the car. st the command of
the robbers they came Ou!, Smith leav-
ing his revolver just inside the door.
The robbers ordered Smith and Boards
ley TO hold up their hands, and then
searched them. Smith was then ordered
to 90 back into the car and light up. He
climbed back and the foremost rObber
started to follow. Smith seized his pis.
toll, placed it almost against the robbers
breast and fired, sending bullet
through his heart. The rpbber fell back
dead, but fired twice at Smith while
falling. Smith and the other rObber eX-
changed shots. The robber then at
tempted to get his comrades body on
the engine, intending to uncouple it
from the train and run on. While he
was trying TO lift the body upon the
engine, the messenger got his double
barrel shot gun, leaned out the car and
shot ut him. The robber sank down.
then sprang up and ran out of sight.
The train returned to that city, the ex-
press car was repaired and the train
went on, Messenger Smith remaining
in the city. Deputy Marshals Van
Ripper and Ross at once started for TsletR
thirteen miles east of Ell PasO, and Sc
curing three experienced Mexican trail
erS, had them at the scene OF the "hOld
up" before daylight. City Marshal
Wyett ana other officers were on the
ground by sunrise. The hunt was short.
Less than fifty yards from where he was
shot lay the second robber dead. His
body was brought back to the city and
placed beside his late companion in
crime. An examination showed only
one buckshot had struck him, that it en-
tered the front side of the left shoulder,
and cut the artery just above the heart.
Messenger Smith is from st. Louis,
living now at San Antonio. He has
been employed by Wells-Fargo Company
for four years, and runs between FL
Paso and San Antonio. The citizens of
Ell Paso presented him with a suit of
clothes, and have raised over one hum
dred dollars for medal. j. w. Mich.
OILS, superintendent of Wells, Fargo 81
Co. for Texas and Louisiana, telegraph
ed Smith, congratulating him on his
victory, and saying if his example was
followed, train robbery would be Il thing
of the past